Breeders’ Cup Roundup: 2025 fields are almost set

The 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar is only four days away. Catch up on the latest news and developments with our weekly Breeders’ Cup Roundup:

Classic contenders wrap up serious pre-race training

One by one, the 10 horses expected to enter the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) are completing their serious pre-race exercises. Here’s a rundown of the details:

Antiquarian: The upset Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner wrapped up his Classic preparations with half a mile in :48.67 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track on Friday.

Baeza: Coming off a win in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), Baeza clocked five furlongs in 1:01.60 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Contrary Thinking: The pacemaker for reigning Classic winner Sierra Leone worked half a mile in :49.77 over the Belmont Park training track on Saturday.

Fierceness: Last year’s Classic runner-up breezed a fast half-mile in :48.00 over the Oklahoma training track on Friday as he readies for a rematch with Sierra Leone.

Forever Young: Japan’s Saudi Cup (G1) winner hasn’t posted a timed workout since arriving in the U.S.; however, he’s expected to breeze on Wednesday.

Journalism: The Preakness (G1) conqueror traveled five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Sunday at Del Mar.

Mindframe: Over the Oklahoma training track, Stephen Foster (G1) hero Mindframe worked a half-mile in :49.88 on Friday.

Nevada Beach: Since beating older rivals in the Goodwood (G1), three-year-old Nevada Beach has trained strongly, most recently clocking six furlongs in 1:12.20 on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Sierra Leone: Aiming for a defense of his 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic title, Sierra Leone worked four furlongs in :48.74 on Saturday over the Oklahoma training track.

Sovereignty: The sensational Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), and Travers (G1) winner posted his final timed exercise on Monday, cruising half a mile in :49.80 at Del Mar.

Kopion will face males in Breeders’ Cup Sprint

One of the biggest developments to come out of pre-entries is the news that Kopion, one of the leading female sprinters in the country, will face males in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) rather than stick to her own division in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Brad Free of the Daily Racing Form reported the news. Kopion shares an owner (Spendthrift Farm) and trainer (Richard Mandella) with Tamara, a Grade 1 winner who recently won the Chillingworth (G3). With Tamara slated to start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Kopion is targeting the Sprint, giving Spendthrift and Mandella a chance to sweep both races.

In the past, fillies and mares such as Very Subtle (1987), Safely Kept (1990), and Desert Stormer (1995) all prevailed over males in the Sprint. However, female participation has diminished since the introduction of the Filly & Mare Sprint in 2007, and Desert Stormer remains the last filly or mare to win the Sprint.

Locked, Nobals among pre-entry defections

At least 10 horses pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup have been withdrawn from consideration and will not be among the final entrants.

Notable defections include Locked from the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Nobals from the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Locked, a multiple Grade 1 winner, has been retired from racing. Nobals, winner of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, was third on the also-eligible list for this year’s prospective field.

According to the Breeders’ Cup, other pre-entrants who have withdrawn include Alamendares from the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Beautify from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Chasing Freedom and Sassy C W from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1), Desert Gate from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Gimme a Nother and Way to Be Marie from the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), and Humidity from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).

Breeders’ Cup final fields, post positions slated for Monday release

Post positions for all 14 Breeders’ Cup races will be drawn this evening, starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. You can watch the post draws live on the Breeders’ Cup website.